scholarly journals Alterations in sphingolipid composition and mitochondrial bioenergetics represent synergistic therapeutic vulnerabilities linked to multidrug resistance in leukemia

Author(s):  
Kelsey H. Fisher-Wellman ◽  
James T Hagen ◽  
Miki Kassai ◽  
Li-Pin Kao ◽  
Margaret Nelson ◽  
...  

Abstract Modifications in sphingolipid (SL) metabolism and mitochondrial bioenergetics are key factors implicated in cancer cell response to chemotherapy, including chemotherapy resistance. Vinca alkaloids such as vincristine (VCR), widely used in cancer treatment, are no exception, as their beneficial actions are often supplanted by resistance. In the present work we utilized HL-60 human leukemia cells and a VCR-resistant counterpart, HL-60/VCR, as a model to determine potential interplay between SL metabolism and mitochondrial bioenergetics supportive of multidrug resistance (MDR). Relative to wild-type cells, HL-60/VCR presented with global alterations in SL composition, typified by upregulated expression of sphingosine kinase (SPHK1), which catalyzes formation of sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P), glucosylceramide synthase (GCS), which catalyzes formation of glucosylceramides (GC), and acid ceramidase, responsible for ceramide hydrolysis. In support of these changes, VCR resistance was also characterized by increases in S1P, several molecular species of ceramide and GC, and changes in sphingomyelin (SM) molecular species. With respect to mitochondria, despite increased basal respiration in HL-60/VCR cells, direct interrogation of the mitochondrial network revealed intrinsic respiratory complex insufficiency, largely localized to complex I (CI). Importantly, forced ceramide accumulation in wild-type cells phenocopied the respiratory insufficiency observed in HL-60/VCR, and co-targeting SL metabolism and CI induced synergistic cytotoxicity in HL-60/VCR cells, as well as in other MDR leukemia models. Together, these data underscore the intimate connection between cellular sphingolipids and mitochondrial metabolism and suggest that pharmacological intervention across both pathways may represent a novel treatment strategy against MDR.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelsey H. Fisher-Wellman ◽  
James T Hagen ◽  
Miki Kassai ◽  
Li-Pin Kao ◽  
Margaret Nelson ◽  
...  

Abstract Modifications in sphingolipid (SL) metabolism and mitochondrial bioenergetics are key factors implicated in cancer cell response to chemotherapy, including chemotherapy resistance. Vinca alkaloids such as vincristine (VCR), widely used in cancer treatment, are no exception, as their beneficial actions are often supplanted by resistance. In the present work we utilized HL-60 human leukemia cells and a VCR-resistant counterpart, HL-60/VCR, as a model to determine potential interplay between SL metabolism and mitochondrial bioenergetics supportive of multidrug resistance (MDR). Relative to wild-type cells, HL-60/VCR presented with global alterations in SL composition, typified by upregulated expression of sphingosine kinase (SPHK1), which catalyzes formation of sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P), glucosylceramide synthase (GCS), which catalyzes formation of glucosylceramides (GC), and acid ceramidase, responsible for ceramide hydrolysis. In support of these changes, VCR resistance was also characterized by increases in S1P, several molecular species of ceramide and GC, and changes in sphingomyelin (SM) molecular species. With respect to mitochondria, despite increased basal respiration in HL-60/VCR cells, direct interrogation of the mitochondrial network revealed intrinsic respiratory complex insufficiency, largely localized to complex I (CI). Importantly, forced ceramide accumulation in wild-type cells phenocopied the respiratory insufficiency observed in HL-60/VCR, and co-targeting SL metabolism and CI induced synergistic cytotoxicity in HL-60/VCR cells, as well as in other MDR leukemia models. Together, these data underscore the intimate connection between cellular sphingolipids and mitochondrial metabolism and suggest that pharmacological intervention across both pathways may represent a novel treatment strategy against MDR.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelsey H. Fisher-Wellman ◽  
James T Hagen ◽  
Miki Kassai ◽  
Li-Pin Kao ◽  
Margaret Nelson ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Modifications in sphingolipid (SL) metabolism and mitochondrial bioenergetics are key factors implicated in cancer cell response to chemotherapy, including chemotherapy resistance. Vinca alkaloids such as vincristine (VCR), widely used in cancer treatment, are no exception, as their beneficial actions are often supplanted by resistance. In the present work we utilized HL-60 human leukemia cells and a VCR-resistant counterpart, HL-60/VCR cells, to determine potential interplay between SL metabolism and mitochondrial bioenergetics supportive of VCR resistance. Methods: Cellular SL alterations were assessed via a combination of enzyme immunoblot analysis and lipidomics. Mitochondrial function was evaluated in intact cells, permeabilized cells and isolated mitochondria using a comprehensive diagnostic assay system designed to directly interrogate oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) kinetics. Informed by SL and bioenergetic readouts, experiments were designed to assess the therapeutic efficacy of co-targeting SL metabolism and mitochondrial flux to combat VCR resistance. Results: Relative to wild-type cells, HL-60/VCR presented with global alterations in SL composition, typified by upregulated expression of sphingosine kinase (SPHK1), which catalyzes formation of sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P), glucosylceramide synthase (GCS), which catalyzes formation of glucosylceramides (GC), and acid ceramidase, responsible for ceramide hydrolysis. In support of these changes, VCR resistance was also characterized by increases in S1P, several molecular species of ceramide and GC, and changes in sphingomyelin (SM) molecular species. With respect to mitochondria, despite increased basal respiration in HL-60/VCR cells, direct interrogation of the mitochondrial network revealed intrinsic respiratory complex insufficiency, largely localized to complex I (CI). Importantly, forced ceramide accumulation in wild-type cells phenocopied the respiratory insufficiency observed in HL-60/VCR, and co-targeting SL metabolism and CI induced synergistic cytotoxicity in HL-60/VCR. Conclusions: Together, these data underscore the intimate connection between cellular sphingolipids and mitochondrial metabolism and suggest that pharmacological intervention across both pathways may represent a novel treatment strategy against VCR resistance.


2019 ◽  
Vol 47 (8) ◽  
pp. 2026-2035
Author(s):  
Pavitra Kannan ◽  
András Füredi ◽  
Sabina Dizdarevic ◽  
Thomas Wanek ◽  
Severin Mairinger ◽  
...  

Abstract Purpose Multidrug resistance (MDR) impedes cancer treatment. Two efflux transporters from the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) family, ABCB1 and ABCG2, may contribute to MDR by restricting the entry of therapeutic drugs into tumor cells. Although a higher expression of these transporters has been correlated with an unfavorable response to chemotherapy, transporter expression does not necessarily correlate with function. In this study, we characterized the pharmacological properties of [18F]AVT-011, a new PET radiotracer for imaging transporter-mediated MDR in tumors. Methods AVT-011 was radiolabeled with 18F and evaluated with PET imaging in preclinical models. Transport of [18F]AVT-011 by ABCB1 and/or ABCG2 was assessed by measuring its uptake in the brains of wild-type, Abcb1a/b−/−, and Abcg2−/− mice at baseline and after administration of the ABCB1 inhibitor tariquidar (n = 5/group). Metabolism and biodistribution of [18F]AVT-011 were also measured. To measure ABCB1 function in tumors, we performed PET experiments using both [18F]AVT-011 and [18F]FDG in mice bearing orthotopic breast tumors (n = 7–10/group) expressing clinically relevant levels of ABCB1. Results At baseline, brain uptake was highest in Abcb1a/b−/− mice. After tariquidar administration, brain uptake increased 3-fold and 8-fold in wild-type and Abcg2−/− mice, respectively, but did not increase further in Abcb1a/b−/− mice. At 30 min after injection, the radiotracer was > 90% in its parent form and had highest uptake in organs of the hepatobiliary system. Compared with that in drug-sensitive tumors, uptake of [18F]AVT-011 was 32% lower in doxorubicin-resistant tumors with highest ABCB1 expression and increased by 40% with tariquidar administration. Tumor uptake of [18F]FDG did not significantly differ among groups. Conclusion [18F]AVT-011 is a dual ABCB1/ABCG2 substrate radiotracer that can quantify transporter function at the blood-brain barrier and in ABCB1-expressing tumors, making it potentially suitable for clinical imaging of ABCB1-mediated MDR in tumors.


2001 ◽  
Vol 281 (4) ◽  
pp. G1034-G1043 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kousei Ito ◽  
Hiroshi Suzuki ◽  
Yuichi Sugiyama

Multidrug resistance-associated protein 3 (MRP3), unlike other MRPs, transports taurocholate (TC). The difference in TC transport activity between rat MRP2 and MRP3 was studied, focusing on the cationic amino acids in the transmembrane domains. For analysis, transport into membrane vesicles from Sf9 cells expressing wild-type and mutated MRP2 was examined. Substitution of Arg at position 586 with Leu and Ile and substitution of Arg at position 1096 with Lys, Leu, and Met resulted in the acquisition of TC transport activity, while retaining transport activity for glutathione and glucuronide conjugates. Substitution of Leu at position 1084 of rat MRP3 (which corresponds to Arg-1096 in rat MRP2) with Lys, but not with Val or Met, resulted in the loss of transport activity for TC and glucuronide conjugates. These results suggest that the presence of the cationic charge at Arg-586 and Arg-1096 in rat MRP2 prevents the transport of TC, whereas the presence of neutral amino acids at the corresponding position of rat MRP3 is required for the transport of substrates.


1987 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 718-724
Author(s):  
K L Deuchars ◽  
R P Du ◽  
M Naik ◽  
D Evernden-Porelle ◽  
N Kartner ◽  
...  

The overexpression of a plasma membrane glycoprotein, P-glycoprotein, is strongly correlated with the expression of multidrug resistance. This phenotype (frequently observed in cell lines selected for resistance to a single drug) is characterized by cross resistance to many drugs, some of which are used in cancer chemotherapy. In the present study we showed that DNA-mediated transformants of mouse LTA cells with DNA from multidrug-resistant hamster cells acquired the multidrug resistance phenotype, that the transformants contained hamster P-glycoprotein DNA sequences, that these sequences were amplified whereas the recipient mouse P-glycoprotein sequences remained at wild-type levels, and that the overexpressed P-glycoprotein in these cells was of hamster origin. Furthermore, we showed that the hamster P-glycoprotein sequences were transfected independently of a group of genes that were originally coamplified and linked within a 1-megabase-pair region in the donor hamster genome. These data indicate that the high expression of P-glycoprotein is the only alteration required to mediate multidrug resistance.


2019 ◽  
Vol 103 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 27-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chu-Cheng Chang ◽  
Jen-Kou Lin ◽  
Tzu-Chen Lin ◽  
Wei-Shone Chen ◽  
Jeng-Kai Jiang ◽  
...  

Objective: Mutation spectra in colorectal cancer with metastasis and its response to chemotherapy. Summary of Background Data: No molecular markers are available for selecting the optimal chemotherapeutic regimen (irinotecan or oxaliplatin) for metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). Methods: We enrolled 161 mCRC patients who underwent surgery for their primary tumors at Taipei Veterans General Hospital from 2004 to 2010. The prevalence of gene mutations was measured and correlated with responses to different cytotoxic agents. Results: We detected 1,836 mutations in 12 genes. KRAS mutants affected 44.3% of the tumors. The rate of good response was insignificantly higher for patients with KRAS mutant tumors who received oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy compared with patients with KRAS wild-type tumors (65.6% versus 47.0%; P = 0.15). For patients who received irinotecan-based chemotherapy, the rate of good response was similar in patients with wild-type (55.0%; n = 11) and those with KRAS mutant tumors (54.5%; n = 12; P = 1). In patients with KRAS mutant tumors treated with an oxaliplatin-based regimen, the overall survival was 38.5 months (95% CI: 26.6–50.5 months), which was insignificantly better than that for patients treated with an irinotecan-based regimen (30.4 months; 95% CI: 15.8–45.1 months; P = 0.206). Conclusions: Our data could not come to the conclusion that patient with KRAS mutation mCRC may have better response with oxaliplatin-based first-line chemotherapy. Further study is needed to confirm the relationship between gene mutation and chemotherapy response.


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